To not get Cornwall?

[LarrysNewOwner]

Staying in St Austell.

Last few days we’ve been on the beach which has been lovely.

Now it’s clouded over, not really sure where to go.

Have 2 DC DS8 and DD4.

kids love theme parks. We like pretty towns to walk around etc. Maybe a boat ride.

wang are we missing?

Paradise Park
Cornish Seal Sanctuary

So your solution is to travel to the other side of Devon? 😂

Yes, I thought the same. Overhyped and over priced. Nightmare roads. Much nicer places around.

Dreadful place overcrowded, overpriced, rubbish roads, plenty to do if you don't mind spending hours in the car, horrible twee Ye Olde Shops aimed at fleecing tourists. Once I've had a pastie and a cream tea I'm done with it and I've just discovered you can get them posted to you at home

@LarrysNewOwner - your children might enjoy the Giant Slip n Slide - on A39 between St Columb Major and Wadebridge. There's an Aqua Park at Retallack (close to Slip n Slide). Dairyland and Springfield Pony park (not exactly adrenaline central but ok for primary aged). Flambards better for bigger rides and Adrenaline Quarry near Liskeard (I think) which has Aqua Park, zip line and massive swing over the Quarry. Plenty of body boarding and surf lessons up here on North coast.

Word of warning if you venture up here - it's Boardmasters next week so will take four times as long to get anywhere 😡!

So many more better places to enjoy beaches in the U.K.

What???? It's amazing here....

Eden, shite
Flambards, shite
Padstein, sorry Padstow, shite
Parking anywhere, expensive and shite.

Ok, it's pretty shite.

Camel creek is ideal for your kids ages, and a free return visit within a week so good value.

The weather today is ideal for kids, warm enough to be out and about, no rain, no need to worry about sunburn. Go for a walk and a picnic?

I see the usual slagging off has started.

Yes that's right we all live here because it's shite.

This was where me and DC spent Tuesday morning. I must be in denial ...

Well you chose an utter shite hole to stay in so you won't 'get Cornwall' if you go to the really beautiful areas you'll have a great time!

Parking is horrendous and at Carbis Bay they wanted £5 for an ice cream cornet £7.50 for two scoops . A local told me the toilets on the beaches are being sold off . Cornwall is beautiful but you do need dry weather to enjoy it if you're not into surfing.

We’ve just had an amazing week in Cornwall. It’s absolutely beautiful. The sea was so clear & we loved the walking. Also went to some great seafood restaurants. I don’t know how anyone can’t enjoy themselves there.

We've had lovely holidays in cornwall, in a mix of weathers. Some near st Austell, some near Penzance.

Overcast is fine, saves on the sun cream.

When we'd done all the tin mines etc we started going to north wales instead - that's got rather more non-beach options (castles, great walking etc).

Don’t think anyone’s mentioned St Michael’s Mount, Minack theatre, Porthcurno beach - there’s a lot of driving around Cornwall to get to places, but so worth it.

Head to Fowey, not far from you and boat rides a plenty. St Mawes also pretty for a wander, beach etc. Eden project? Honestly, there are so many beaches you could do one every day.

We live on the IoW so are well used to prettiness and beaches, but still come away for a change and rarely get bored.

What about a bus tour?

Pendeniss Castle normally has activities on for kids, it’s really good.

Crabbing? Seal sanctuary?

Tintagel for some Arthurian history?

There's a couple of theme park type places around

Well, you went to St Austell, which is a shit hole. That's the first problem! 😂

Boat trips - lots from Penzance, Newquay, St Ives, Falmouth etc.

You're just down the road from the Eden Project. That's an obvious one.

Day trip to just about anywhere along the coast - you're just down along from Fowey, Falmouth, Polperro or overland to Port Isaac, Padstow etc.

Ferry from St Mawes to Falmouth, then the maritime museum? Great fun.

Been to Cornwall twice and on both holidays it rained most days. Trying to find something to do was tiresome due to the time taken to get there, the short visiting time, the cost of parking and the horrendous price of ‘traditional’ food. We found it was cheaper to go abroad.
There’s a joke about how a Cornishman takes pride in the fact that it takes them a week to relieve an Englishman of the money he has taken all year to save!

When I stayed at St Austell,
We visited Charlestown (small pretty coastal harbour nearby), Wheal Martin, Mevagissey (by bus), Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell Brewery (just outside the town),
Lanhydrock (Stately Home)

I can't remember if the Camel Trail is anywhere near St Austell, might be worth looking into. Cycled it years ago, you can hire bikes, goes from Bodmin to Padstow. All I can remember is that the scenery was beautiful, not a lot of traffic and my partner and kids were much faster than me and were sitting having a cream tea en route by the time I caught up with them!

Cornwall is lovely. For 10 months of the year.

In July & August, however, the place is a complete nightmare. Overcrowded. Overpriced. Overrated. Avoid.

Mine loved lappa valley at those ages and also flambards at Heston
Seal sanctuary
They loved Goonhilly satellite centre but I think that's gone now( and mine were science mad)
Train into St Ives is a lovely route
Tbh I think you've maybe just stayed in the " wrong" place for a break

Helston